Alexander Isak Burglars Instructed to Repay Only £1 Each from £1.2 Million Thefts

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov admitted participating in the burglaries

Individuals of an Italy-based clan of burglars who stole more than £1.2 million worth of items, including from former NUFC forward Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 each.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela and her child Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the northeastern of England to burgle three houses in spring 2024.

The foursome were jailed for from a decade or less in 2025.

At a criminal assets proceeding at the court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to pay back £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over £1,135.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge previously heard the group came by boat in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a campervan as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service service stations while using another car to scout out targets and execute burglaries.

On 31 March they stole more than £1m of goods such as high-end fashion, purses, jewelry and a honor from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the owners were on holiday.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino was the only one of the group to deny the charge but was convicted by jurors

The next evening, the crew entered a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and footwear valued at more than £100,000.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's facility for 48 hours, they then struck at the residence of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the player's £120,000 luxury car.

The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as professional touring thieves, used hand coverings and face coverings, switched their phones off as they neared their targets and attached a number plate, which had been taken from a garage in a town, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on 13 April.

Alexander Isak's home
Thieves took cash and jewellery valued at £80,000 and an car from then-Newcastle United striker Isak's property

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Valentino had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by the court, while his family members had all submitted admissions to the identical accusation.

At the proceeds of crime session, lawyer the prosecution said every one of the defendants had profited from their crimes to the value of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual deemed to have any funds that could be "recovered", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the court was informed, with 14 days to be served in prison if he failed to pay.

The other three had no assets or property so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 each, with seven days in prison the consequence if the sum was not submitted.

Judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the coming years, "such as driving around Italy in a fast car or owning a home", the prosecution could seek further action to "recover the sum due".

Kathleen Lopez
Kathleen Lopez

Mira Chen is an environmental scientist and writer specializing in geospatial analysis and sustainable development, with over a decade of field experience.